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Abuse against women, depression, and infant morbidity: a primary care cohort study in Brazil.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The relationship between abuse against women and maternal depression as risk factors for infant morbidity is unclear.
PURPOSE
To describe the association of prenatal and postnatal abuse against women on infant physical morbidity and examine the potential mediating effect of maternal depression on these associations.
METHODS
Prospective cohort study of 375 women from pregnancy (16th-36th week) to the fifth month postpartum, who attended 18 primary care units in Southern Brazil between 2006 and 2008. Abuse and depression were measured at the prenatal and postnatal interviews using standardized instruments. Infant outcomes were diarrhea and respiratory infection during the first 5 months after birth. Analyses were conducted in 2010.
RESULTS
Overall, 35% of participants reported having suffered abuse during pregnancy and/or in the postnatal period. In addition, 10.1% reported infant diarrhea and 20.5% respiratory infection. Infants of mothers abused at the postnatal period were at increased risk for diarrhea (adjusted relative risk [RR]=2.20, 95% CI=1.15, 4.19) and for respiratory infection (adjusted RR=1.68, 95% CI=1.12, 2.52). There was no mediating effect of depression for either outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Postnatal abuse against women is associated with risk of infant diarrhea and respiratory infection. The current findings highlight the importance of getting abuse against women into the public health agenda.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Manzolli P, Nunes MA, Schmidt MI, Ferri CP

    Institution

    Graduate Studies Program in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. pmanzolli@gmail.com

    Source

    American journal of preventive medicine 43:2 2012 Aug pg 188-95

    MeSH

    Adult
    Brazil
    Cohort Studies
    Data Collection
    Depression
    Depression, Postpartum
    Diarrhea
    Female
    Humans
    Infant
    Infant, Newborn
    Male
    Pregnancy
    Primary Health Care
    Respiratory Tract Infections
    Risk Factors
    Spouse Abuse
    Young Adult

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22813684